Thursday, May 22, 2008

Here is the background information: Books are scarce in the world. They are illegal in some provinces. They are not easily replaced, if not impossible to replace if lost in many if not most circumstances. If you can replace a book or buy one, it is usually through the black market at astronomical costs that you cannot afford. Yet you have been able to maintain one of the best collections in the world. If your entire library was about to burn up (think of the firefighters in Fahrenheit 451 invading your home) and you could only have one* book to take with you other than the Bible, what would that be and why?

Simple Rules: Answer the question. Offer one quote that resonates with you. Tag five people whose response is of genuine interest to you and inform him or her that they have been tagged.

Being the rotten rule-breaker that I am, I am going to discuss a book that I probably wouldn't grab in those circumstances, but which I have thought a lot about since reading it. If I were in those circumstances, I'd grab my grandfather's vintage valise that sits on one end of the sofa, go to the bookshelves, and just shovel in as much as I could. I can't even imagine living in the world that is described in that paragraph. Though I've never written a book, I have kept journals and journals truly are not replaceable so I want to grab them, too.

So that's the book and just in time for your summer reading enjoyment. The narrator is a nine year old girl who becomes friends with the little gal you see on the cover...great cover by the way!

"I was nine years old the summer Freeda and Winnalee Malone rushed across our lives like red-hot flames, peeling back the shutters that sat over our hearts and our minds, setting free our sweetest dreams and our worst nightmares. Too young to know that anything out of the ordinary was about to happen."

Not going to tag anyone, but if you find yourself needing a post some fine day, this would make a good one! Thanks, Happyone!

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On a completely different note, I am going to do something radical to my hair tomorrow...r-a-d-i-c-a-l! Here's the before...

I promise I'll post the radical Saturday morning, if not before, no matter how awful it is. :D

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Prince Caspian has made it to the theaters and I can't wait to see it. C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series thrills old folks like me, too.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment yesterday. I laughed and chuckled my way through each thoughtful response. I particularly enjoyed the thought of a little hedgehog. I didn't see it, but that didn't matter. I did see the screaming woman. I could almost see a sphinx. Dogs and sheep...perhaps, but I think you know where I'm going with this...

Sometimes the Lord uses the most simple things to remind us that He's ever watchful, ever present, ever taking care of us. I've been concerned for my daughter's work environment and her state of mind and spent much of the day discussing it with her. That evening, when I saw the photo of her on the beach and this stone lion gazing placidly on her, well, I'm getting choked up thinking about it even now. It was a God thing.

The rest of you all have earned your jobs as children's illustrators! :D

May 18 - May 24This week is all about sharing about teapots. Do you have one? two? or three? maybe more? Is it for display only or do you use it for tea? What is the tea server you use most? Your favorite teapot (or is it something like a quart jar?). Tell your teapot story, give its history, and tell what it means to you. You can share more than once if you'd like. Antique, new, Asian, English, or something in between --- we'd love to know!

So it all comes down to this... I'm displaying three teapots that have graced my home for the past eight years while my sister was in residence. The green ivy Corelle pot you've seen before and is the only teapot I own. The apple teapot and the center one belong to my little sister and soon her kitchen will be ready to receive them. Of her two, I love the center one for its feminine, autumnal appearance. As for good handles and good spouts they all fall on their proverbial keisters. I am on a mission to find a good teapot soon. I'll be eagerly reading about teapots on my tour throughout the week. I am so interested in teapot design for function more than beauty these days.

Did anyone see Mark Fitzgerald on Martha Stewart some time ago? A feature was done on his pottery shop. Amazing work he does and he's very fussy about designing good handles and spouts that pour properly. You can see a selection of his incredible teapots at Fitzgerald.com. I am saving my pennies even though I don't find his teapot items that pricey.

Oh I can't believe that we've come to the end of this most amazing Hospital-i-tea Blogathon hosted by the incomparable LaTeaDah. She has done an amazing job of gathering this all together for us. Hope that you'll join the final tour!

Edited to Add: Just one more teapot to share... My mother took this photo for me, but it didn't arrive before I posted. Anyway, this is my favorite family teapot for its charming graphics. I've always loved it. (Since I broke it while visiting my grandmother many years ago, it is used as a decoration only.)

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the homecoming of His saints. ~Psalm 116:15

Many of you may have read that Dottie Rambo was tragically killed in a bus accident a week ago. You can read more about that here at Gaither.com.

Dottie Rambo has written many, many wonderful hymns of the church. Perhaps you have sung them; I have. My favorite is "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need," which is set to the music "Danny Boy." As I was looking for more information about the song, I found this wonderful background story. I know that when you have time, you'd be blessed to read it at Christianity Today. (This page no longer exists at CT; however, the story can be found here.)

David Phelps sings one of my favorite versions of the song here. It is a powerful testimony to a grace this big, a love so strong, a God who can forgive this much.

A beautiful Sunday to you all. (I'm heading for the ocean with my daughter today. Yes, I'll take my camera.)